Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll has challenged his players to overcome their “biggest test” after a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Torquay United on Boxing Day.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, he encouraged a level of ‘balance‘ after seeing the unbeaten run of 12 matches halted – but promised the side had a big week ahead.
“The important thing is, is to stay balanced, with this result… the season is a long season, it’s a marathon.
“What we’ve done very well (before today) is not allow crosses coming into the box, we’ve not allowed that happen. But today we were poor at it, especially down this right hand side, I think all the goals came down the similar angle of this right hand side, and we didn’t stop crosses well enough and what you have to then do is stop the outcome of the crosses.
“I think we’ve played a lot better than that, but the manner of the defeat left a very sour taste in my mouth, which is why we had a gentle conversation at the end.”
Sarll promised that his side would be in for a big week of training ahead of the return fixture with Gary Johnson’s Gulls at Huish Park next Sunday.
“I said to them ‘this could be your biggest test so far, it’s alright to call yourself special when things are going well, and tweet and all that malarkey that that lot do now, these are challenges, and you have to stand up to challenges in the same way you stand up to diversity.
“That was my biggest disappointment today. At 1-0 stay in the game, even at 2-0 (if)Matthew (Worthington) scores, we have a great chance. Our set plays weren’t good enough, our work in and around the box wasn’t good enough, we fired high and wide too often, when corridors of opportunity opened up, when you do that, and don’t defend your box, I don’t think it’s too hard to see why you concede three and don’t score any. “
“We have to make sure we have a good, strong week now, reassert those principles of firstly, how you behave when you play for Yeovil, that’s the most important thing. Then secondly, just this group of players will be bubbling by next (Sunday), they’ll be desperate to get back out there.”